Orc

Appearance

Shorter than High Orcs but thicker and more brutal than Half-Orcs, these creatures' oafish exterior hides a cunning and intelligent mind that is hindered by a lack of articulate presentation.

Naming Convention

Orcs generally name themselves one syllable names such as 'Lurch' or 'Bilch', and their titles act as their surnames. For example, a particularly skilled woodcutter orc would be called 'Gork Treefeller' or 'Gork Woodbane'.

Biology

Orcs can vary between five and seven feet tall, but make up for their height limitations with sturdy builds rivaled only in strength by Mountain Dwarves or Leonin. They have typically gray or green skin and rough hair that seemingly produces more grease than a skillet of bacon. They are most recognized by their large tusks that often protrude from their lower jaw, and the more accomplished orcs have them carved with designs they like.

Geography

Orcs live in secluded groups known as Herds, that usually wander the plains and badlands of Erendia, with some known to spread as far as the Northern Wilds. Their herds are extremely tribal and often come to conflict over the fact that a different tribe simply is nearby. Their power structure is determined by strength and most of their laws involve some sort of combat.

Half-Orc

Appearance

Half-orcs are a crossbreed between Orcs or High Orcs and some other compatible genetic species. Generally this implies a relationship between an orc and a human, but the cross breed can occur between orcs and just about any of the races, with varying appearances based on heritage.

Naming Convention

Half-orcs typically have the name given by their mother or a name they chose for themselves, as except in the rarest circumstances, they don't have much of a family life due to their undesirability. There are a few High Orc and Non Orc unions that stay together, and the half-orcs produced by such a union generally don't differ much from the rest other than that their parents speak to them.

Biology

Orcish genes are highly dominant, which means most half-breeds show orcish features as a primary. This is usually indicated by the color of the skin, which can vary from gray to light brown to green, as well as teeth that grow exceptionally long but never as thick as orc tusks. The non orc traits will manifest in the form of eyes, ears, and facial structure, as well as hair. Half-Orcs generally stand between 5 and 7 feet tall.

Geography

Wherever orcs are prominent, half-orcs can exist. Many of the half-orcs in society nowadays are actually significantly less than half-orc and are usually the offspring of parents who are half or quarter-orcs themselves.

High Orc

Appearance

These orcs are the pinnacle of orcish genetics. They aren't a particularly different race than standard orcs, but if an orc is born with exceptionally good genes, it can grow into a High Orc.

Naming Convention

Same as orcish naming conventions.

Biology

They stand straighter and have more mass than regular Orcs, with a typical specimen being a minimum of seven feet tall. Their muscles are engorged and their bodies are considered to be the peak of physical prowess. They share the same biological traits as their cousins but with the added benefit of being generally more intelligent and able to speak with some decorum in comparison.

Geography

High Orcs are rare even among Orc tribes, but their leaders are almost always High Orcs by merit of the fact defeating one in hand to hand combat is incredibly difficult. They have occasionally broken from the Orcish traditions and integrated into society, with at least one High Orc rising in the ranks of some military during wartime due to their tactical and combative prowess.